A gift for Jack Webb

[turnerriver]

Paladin85020 posted this photo in a thread about Model 39 autos and kindly agreed to let me post it here. It’s a 1966 photo of LA police chief W.H. Parker presenting his badge and Chiefs Special to Jack Webb, the holster appears to be a Lewis holster. I thought you all would enjoy the photo.
Regards,
turnerriver

 

[crazyphil]

Paladin85020 posted this photo in a thread about Model 39 autos and kindly agreed to let me post it here. It’s a 1966 photo of LA police chief W.H. Parker presenting his badge and Chiefs Special to Jack Webb, the holster appears to be a Lewis holster. I thought you all would enjoy the photo.
Regards,
turnerriver

Looks like that made Jack a happy guy.

 

[raylan007]

No spray and pray.

Paladin85020 posted this photo in a thread about Model 39 autos and kindly agreed to let me post it here. It’s a 1966 photo of LA police chief W.H. Parker presenting his badge and Chiefs Special to Jack Webb, the holster appears to be a Lewis holster. I thought you all would enjoy the photo.
Regards,
turnerriver

The days when a .38 special got the job done, no spray and pray mentality in this era. Thanks for sharing this piece of history. Kinda makes you think about how we arrived at the present means of defense

 

[les.b]

That's a great photo, John!! Chief Parkerand Jack Webb were friends, and it's my understanding that Parker allowed Webb to use real LAPD case files as the basis for Dragnet plots. They "just changed the names to protect the innocent ", and had real interesting plots ready made. It was a great public relations tool for the PD, and Jack Webb made money on the series, and we all got to see some really cool Hollywood productions!!! A win-win-win. I have always enjoyed Dragnet, and still do.

Thanks for sharing this great photo with us... And thanks to John Marshall as well!!

Best Regards, Les

 

[Chuck24]

Coincidentally watching Dragnet reruns on Amazon when I saw this.

 

[Loyaljeeper]

It looks like a model 10.

 

[jimmyj]

Yes the holster is a Lewis "L.A. Police Special".

 

[crazyphil]

It looks like a model 10.

I also thought it was a model 10. Here's mine:

 

[kaaskop49]

It looks like a model 10.

I remember Webb using a snub 10 in an episode of the later series "Dragnet 1967." He exchanged fire in a laundromat, IIRC, with a BG who used a 6" bbl 10. Webb/Friday had no proof the BG fired at him until a bullet hole was found behind a shelf. The BG's bullet had grazed the underside of the shelf and buried itself in the wall. Anyone remember this episode?

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[Old cop]

I remember Webb using a snub 10 in an episode of the later series "Dragnet 1967." He exchanged fire in a laundromat, IIRC, with a BG who used a 6" bbl 10. Webb/Friday had no proof the BG fired at him until a bullet hole was found behind a shelf. The BG's bullet had grazed the underside of the shelf and buried itself in the wall. Anyone remember this episode?

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

I do remember that one. I’m a big Dragnet/Jack Webb fan and carried a Model 10 snub as an issued weapon.

 

[turnerriver]

If Detective Friday carried a model 10 then this is probably that gun as the photo was captioned “ Jack Webb receives his old police revolver and badge 714 from LA Police Chief Parker. “
Apparently Webb gave the revolver & badge to Parker in 1958 when the original Dragnet series stopped production. Parker returned them when the new Dragnet 1966 started production. I was just trying to see if you all are paying attention.
Regards,
turnerriver

 

[153]

I seem to recall that in the original series Friday carried a Colt DS. I have seen postings that this S&W was an Airweight.

 

[kaaskop49]

I seem to recall that in the original series Friday carried a Colt DS. I have seen postings that this S&W was an Airweight.

^^^^what he said. At least there was some continuity in the show. In some flicks, the gun changes from moment to moment in the same scene.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[raylan007]

"Just the facts mam, just the facts"

In my mind a model 36 will always be synonymous with Jack Webb. "Just the facts mam, just the facts". I also wouldn't hold it against him if he went along with the changing times and opted for the 6 round M10 snub nose, one of my favorites. Thanks Chuck24 for making me aware my heroes reruns can be found on Amazon. Now if I could just find some Paladin reruns I would feel complete.

 

[tecolote]

If I remember correctly, Friday received an Airweight Smith to replace his Colt in the first Dragnet series, so that might be a Model 12 or pre-12. Both Webb and Morgan wore clip-on Lewis holsters in at one episode of the second series, unclipping them in one scene.

 

[rednichols]

Does look like a Lewis although most won't realise it could also be a Clark. Later it was Bucheimer-Clark (which this one is not) who increased the spring length and made it easy to tell B-Cs from Lewis & Clark originals.

Clark Holster was E.E. Clark, father of Earl Clark who was Bucheimer-Clark beginning '59. Lots of scrutinising of construction details (this is a very clear image) would pin it down between Lewis and Clark. Good fun for someone (not me) .

 

[Fide686]

That is the only episode i remember. Made an impression i guess. They thought it was a carpenters-mark. Bullet lifted the shelf and was conceal-led when it dropped back down.

 

[les.b]

If you guys go over to imfdb, the Internet movie firearms database, they have a list of guns used in both the original 1950s series of Dragnet (Colt DS for SGT Friday) and the 1960s Dragnet .... (M&P 2" for Friday). There are some fairly clear photos. Also from the original movie and the later one with Dan Akroyd. Also has photos of some of the other guns used in different episodes by other cops and bad guys.

Here's Sgt. Friday cleaning his Detective Special in one of the original series:

Best Regards, Les

 

[les.b]

Yeah...Thanks Chuck24!!! I have had Amazon Prime, but had to add a "Trial" subscription to "Best TV Ever" to get the Dragnet episodes, but just watched episode 1, Season 1 (original series, 1950s). Very good... Sgt. Friday's boss was "Ray" Burr...pre "Perry Mason"...

Good stuff!!!

Best Regards, Les

 

[crazyphil]

Does look like a Lewis although most won't realise it could also be a Clark. Later it was Bucheimer-Clark (which this one is not) who increased the spring length and made it easy to tell B-Cs from Lewis & Clark originals.

Clark Holster was E.E. Clark, father of Earl Clark who was Bucheimer-Clark beginning '59. Lots of scrutinising of construction details (this is a very clear image) would pin it down between Lewis and Clark. Good fun for someone (not me) .

On the left is Bucheimier's Sheriff 32-11. It fits the J Frame best.
Notice how the spring enclosure goes clear up to the top of the cylinder,
as Red mentioned.

On the right is "Made by LEWIS-L.A.CAL.
For F.M.Pitt
San Gabriel, CAL.
38 2
(Shown above #8 with 2" model 10) This one appears, to me,
to be the same as the one in OPs photo. Notice how the spring
goes about half-way up the cylinder.

 

[6518John]

Here's Sgt. Friday cleaning his Detective Special in one of the original series:

Aren’t those shells the old 200 grain, round-nose, “Super Police” loads? (My dad’s favorite load. I recently had some made up for old-times sake. I know they are super fun to shoot!).

 

[GoHogs]

Yes the holster is a Lewis "L.A. Police Special".

Just like the guns they held, wish these holsters could talk.

 

[max503]

I remember Webb using a snub 10 in an episode of the later series "Dragnet 1967." He exchanged fire in a laundromat, IIRC, with a BG who used a 6" bbl 10. Webb/Friday had no proof the BG fired at him until a bullet hole was found behind a shelf. The BG's bullet had grazed the underside of the shelf and buried itself in the wall. Anyone remember this episode?

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

I remember that! The bullet left a mark on the underside of the shelf. The bullet mark was mistaken for a carpenter's layout pencil mark during a search of the crime scene.

 

[Chuck24]

I remember Webb using a snub 10 in an episode of the later series "Dragnet 1967." He exchanged fire in a laundromat, IIRC, with a BG who used a 6" bbl 10. Webb/Friday had no proof the BG fired at him until a bullet hole was found behind a shelf. The BG's bullet had grazed the underside of the shelf and buried itself in the wall. Anyone remember this episode?

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

He had stopped to get cigarettes after a long shift and after all this the machine was out of order and still didn't get the cigarettes

 

[jimmyj]

Didn't Friday's partner Officer Smith (Ben Alexander) carry a S&W M10 6" (stag Grips) in a cross draw holster ?

 

[Texas Star]

I was amused by the Lewis and Clark talk. Who was their office manager/model? Sacajawea?

 

[Drm50]

IN the 1990s I was at Garners Auctions in Carrolron, Ohio when
he had 2 Jack Webb guns on the block. They were both in cases
with badge 714s. One was a Chiefs Special & the other a Brn
Hi-Power they both had engraving and the S&W had a badge
714 gold inlay in lock plate. As I remember they didn't bring
much but they could have been buy backs. This is before the
Prices got crazy and the net ruined auctions taking bids on
line while taking on site bids.

 

[rednichols]

I was amused by the Lewis and Clark talk. Who was their office manager/model? Sacajawea?

The alliteration was quite intentional . What's life without whimsy?

 

[rednichols]

The alliteration was quite intentional . What's life without whimsy?

Geeez, now I'm even quoting myself.

There allegedly was an Ed Lewis, and I say it that way because even reviewing my image files again today Lewis and Clark's 'cylinder pocket' holsters appear to be identical. There is some, even sufficient, information about Edward Clark and h is son Earl but ZERO in any database I've found about Ed Lewis; their shop addresses were within walking distance of each other; and given all the above I've been known to wonder if they weren't one and the same operation, perhaps using different names to bid against each other in police contracts (yes, it's been done). That is, I wonder if Ed Lewis and his holsters even existed, and instead were all Clarks with a different marking.

 

[crazyphil]

Geeez, now I'm even quoting myself.

There allegedly was an Ed Lewis, and I say it that way because even reviewing my image files again today Lewis and Clark's 'cylinder pocket' holsters appear to be identical. There is some, even sufficient, information about Edward Clark and h is son Earl but ZERO in any database I've found about Ed Lewis; their shop addresses were within walking distance of each other; and given all the above I've been known to wonder if they weren't one and the same operation, perhaps using different names to bid against each other in police contracts (yes, it's been done). That is, I wonder if Ed Lewis and his holsters even existed, and instead were all Clarks with a different marking.

That is an interesting theory. There is a vintage revolver CLARK
on ebay currently. #2 it appears to be for a J Frame. But
doesn't look anything like the LEWIS models shown above.
I will do a little snooping and see if I can help you prove, or
disprove, the theory.